It took indigenes of Eti-Oni area of Osun State by surprise to see their traditional ruler, Oloni of Eti-Oni, Oba Dokun Thompson, use the Holy Bible to pacify the gods.
The traditional did this on the warning that poverty would persist on the land without appeasing the gods. While he was doing that, his subjects wondered why the usual sacrifice concoction were not used.
When asked by journalists at the first Cocoa Festival in Africa, while he used the bible to appease gods, the monarch explained that the gods were angry over the manner a renowned Yoruba king, Soun of Ogbomoso, was killed mercilessly because of the hike in the taxation on cocoa.
Oba Thompson expressed worry that Eti-Oni, which pioneered cocoa production in Nigeria was wallowing in abject poverty despite that it is a land of richness but the wealth did not manifest in the community and its people because of the anger of the gods.
During the cocoa festival which was tagged ‘Gureje Day’, Oba Thompson raised a bible that was presented to him by the Christian community in Eti-Oni and also shower blessings on the community.
He said, “This cocoa festival was meant to mark the 120 years of cocoa production in Nigeria as pioneered by Eti-Oni. But you would be wondering that this wealthy community is languishing in abject poverty over the years.
“This is because the gods are not happy. The killing of Soun Ogbomoso for increase in taxation on cocoa was the reason for the annoyance of the gods. There would be wealth on the land and poverty would varnish when we appease the gods.
That was why I sought the intervention of the king of kings with the Holy Bible.” The Osile Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, who was royal guest of honour on the occasion joined his host in appeasing the gods through the scripture.
